Raymond Jaravaza
THE last hours of the player transfer window period can be the most stressful in the life of a footballer who is unsure if their current team still wants him in their books or not.
Nerve wrecking is somewhat an understatement because of the level of anxiety a player goes through in those few hours.
Take former Dynamos and Black Rhinos striker Tawanda Macheke for instance.
He was told by his South African side Maritzburg United, a few days before the close of the transfer window period, that he is now โexcess baggage.โ
In other words, Maritzburg United were simply saying: โitโs time for you to go mate.โ
The South African football transfer window period was due to close a few days later โ at 12 midnight 31 January 2023 to be precise.
Anxiously waiting for word from his agent or management if other teams were interested in his services, Macheke could only sit tight and hope for the best.
With literally hours before his career went up in smoke, Machekeโs football gods smiled at him with good news.
According to the latest issue of South African football magazine Kickoff.com DStv Premiership side Moroka Swallows agreed to sign the striker before the close of the player transfer window period on Tuesday night.
Talk of dodging a bullet for the Zimbabwean born player.
He will now don the Moroka Swallows colours โ a team that came to his rescue in his time of need.
Thousands of kilometres from South Africa, another Zimbabwean player Marvelous Nakamba also had a nerve wrecking few hours before the player transfer window period closed on Tuesday midnight.
After he was openly told by Aston Villa manager Unai Emery that his time with the team was up and Nakamba had to find another team pronto.
Lucky for him, Luton Town โ a Championship side โ appreciated the value that he could bring to the team and signed him.